Indicia reading terminal having multiple setting imaging lens

1. A bar code reading terminal comprising: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels; a multiple setting imaging lens assembly for focusing an image of target bar code onto an active surface of said image sensor, the multiple setting imaging lens assembly having a plurality of lens elements; a hand held housing, wherein said image sensor is disposed within said hand held housing; at least one hollow stepper motor for moving at least one lens element of said multiple setting imaging lens assembly; and wherein said terminal is further adapted so that said terminal in an active reading state subjects each of a first and subsequent frame of image data to a decode attempt for attempting to decode said target bar code; wherein said imaging lens assembly includes at least first, second, and third lens settings, wherein said terminal when said lens setting is at said first lens setting has a first best focus distance and a first focal length, wherein said terminal when said lens setting is at said second lens setting has a second best focus distance different from said first best focus distance and a focal length constant relative to said first focal length, wherein said terminal when said lens setting is at said third lens setting has a third best focus distance different from either of said first or second best focus distance and a focal length different from said first focal length, and wherein said terminal is adapted so that in an active reading state said terminal automatically cycles a lens setting of said multiple setting imaging lens assembly between said first, second, and third lens settings.

2. The bar code reading terminal of claim 1 , wherein an exposure period in which the subsequent frame of image data is exposed is an exposure period succeeding an exposure period in which the first frame of image data is exposed.

3. The bar code reading terminal of claim 1 , wherein the subsequent frame of image data succeeds the first frame of image data.

4. The bar code reading terminal of claim 1 , wherein said multiple setting imaging lens assembly includes moving lens elements.

5. The bar code reading terminal of claim 1 , wherein said multiple setting imaging lens assembly includes moving lens elements.

6. The bar code reading terminal of claim 1 , wherein said multiple setting imaging lens assembly includes moving lens elements, and wherein movement of said moving lens elements is provided by a motor.

7. The bar code reading terminal of claim 1 , wherein said multiple setting imaging lens assembly includes moving lens elements, and wherein movement of said moving lens elements is provided by a hollow stepping motor.

8. A bar code reading terminal comprising: an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels; an imaging lens assembly comprising lens elements for focusing an image onto an active surface of said image sensor; an imaging axis extending perpendicularly through said imaging lens assembly; a lens moving assembly for moving lens elements of said imaging lens assembly, wherein said lens moving assembly includes an outer barrel and an inner barrel, wherein camming surfaces are disposed on said outer barrel and said inner barrel, wherein permanent magnets are disposed about said inner barrel, and wherein said outer barrel includes at least one coil radiating electromagnetic energy for rotating said inner barrel about said axis, the camming surfaces guiding moving in a direction coextensive with said axis as said inner barrel is rotated about said axis; wherein said bar code reading terminal is adapted to capture, responsively to a trigger signal being made active, a plurality of frames of image data representing light incident on said plurality of pixels; and wherein said bar code reading terminal is further adapted so that responsively to trigger signal being made active said terminal subjects said plurality of frames to a decode process for decoding a bar code symbol.

9. The bar code reading terminal of claim 8 , wherein said camming surfaces are arranged so that a first time said inner barrel is rotated a certain number of radians about said axis, said inner barrel moves a distance of x mm aligning said axis and further so that a second time said inner barrel is rotated a certain number of degrees about said axis, said inner barrel moves a distance of y along said axis, where x≠y.

10. The bar code reading terminal of claim 8 , wherein said bar code reading terminal includes a hand held housing in which the image sensor is disposed.

11. A bar code reading terminal comprising: an image sensor having a plurality of pixels; a multiple setting imaging lens assembly having a plurality of lens settings; a hand held housing, wherein said image sensor is disposed within said hand held housing; wherein said bar code reading terminal is operative according to a first configuration and a second configuration; wherein said terminal when said first configuration is active cycles between at least some of said plurality of lens settings according to a first cycling pattern when capturing frames of image data; wherein said terminal when said second configuration is active cycles between at least some of said plurality of lens settings according to a second cycling pattern when capturing frames of image data; wherein said terminal when said first configuration is active optimized for reading bar code symbols at a relatively shorter range; and wherein said terminal when said second configuration is active is optimized for reading bar code symbols at a relatively longer reading range.

12. The bar code reading terminal of claim 11 , wherein said terminal has a user interface enabling an operator to select between said first and second configurations.

13. The bar code reading terminal of claim 11 , wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can switch between said first and second configurations responsively to a sensed condition while a trigger signal remains active.

14. The bar code reading terminal of claim 11 , wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can switch between said first and second configurations responsively to a sensed condition while a trigger signal remains active, the sensed condition being a sensed distance of said terminal to a target.

15. The bar code reading terminal of claim 11 , wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can switch between said first and second configurations responsively to a sensed condition while a trigger signal remains active, the sensed condition being an inability to decode an indicia.

16. The bar code reading terminal of claim 11 , wherein said multiple setting imaging lens assembly includes moving lens elements, and wherein movement of said moving lens elements is provided by a motor.

17. The bar code reading terminal of claim 11 , wherein said multiple setting imaging lens assembly includes moving lens elements, and wherein movement of said moving lens elements is provided by a hollow stepping motor.

18. The bar code reading terminal of claim 17 , wherein the bar code reading terminal includes a trigger button, and wherein the bar code reading terminal is configured so that the trigger signal is made active by depression of a trigger button.

19. The bar code reading terminal of claim 18 , wherein the bar code reading terminal is operative to capture a plurality of frames of image data responsively to activation of a trigger signal.

20. The bar code reading terminal of claim 11 , wherein said terminal is adapted so that said terminal can switch between said first and second configurations responsively to a sensed condition.